Visboer op de markt 1808

Joachim Jan Oortman Jr. created this print, "Fishmonger at the Market", around 1814. It depicts a fishmonger skillfully preparing fish at his stall, surrounded by customers. This image gives us insight into the social and economic life of the Netherlands during the early 19th century. Markets were vital social spaces, bringing together people from different social classes. The print highlights the labor involved in food preparation and the importance of trade. It reflects a growing interest in depicting everyday life, a theme that resonated with the rising middle class. To fully understand this artwork, it's helpful to explore historical records of market life, trade regulations, and even the diets of the time. Prints like these offer invaluable glimpses into the past, but their meaning is always shaped by the social and institutional contexts in which they were made and viewed.